An immersive play detailing the famous story and struggles of six local farm labourers to earn a living wage in the nineteenth century will be performed in Dorset.

The New Hardy Players will stage the Six Men of Dorset, a play based on the lives of the Tolpuddle Martyrs by Miles Malleson and HA Brooks.

Performances are set to take place on Saturday, September 22 at 7.30pm, and Sunday, September 22 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

The original 1934 production was staged at the Corn Exchange on High West Street in Dorchester and the production will start the first part of performances here before leading the audience up the street to the Historic Courtroom in the Shire Hall Museum where the infamous trial took place.

Actors in Shire Hall MuseumActors in Shire Hall Museum (Image: Dorchester Arts)

Featuring traditional hymns and folksongs as well as live music and specially filmed sequences, organisers have described the play as the most ambitious to date.

The show is back by popular demand, performing six sell-out shows as well as an appearance at the Tolpuddle Festival.

It is a co-production with Dorchester Arts and the Shire Hall Museum based on the lives of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, who are credited with creating modern unionism, which aims to protect workers’ rights.

Tickets are £16 for adults, and £10 for children under 18. Tickets are available to purchase from the box office, or by visiting www.dorchesterarts.org.uk.